Tag: Sanders

Naples High's Dominiq Ponder looks to throw the ball during the FBU Freshman All-American football game at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. FBU Freshman All-American Bowl

Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder, 23, dies in car accident

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died Sunday, head coach Deion Sanders said in a social media post. Ponder was 23.

Per reports from DNVR Buffs and FOX 31, Ponder was confirmed to be the driver of a 2023 Tesla that was involved in a single-car crash around 3 a.m. Sunday in Boulder County.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Sanders wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

One of Ponder’s teammates in the quarterback room, Colton Allen, also responded to the news in a social media post.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life. What happened feels so final. It feels heavy. It hurts.”

Ponder was entering his third year in Boulder after redshirting at Bethune-Cookman in 2023 and transferring to Colorado. He saw his first game action in 2025, getting into two games as a reserve with one pass attempt and two carries.

The native of Opa Locka, Fla., would have been a candidate to move up Colorado’s depth chart in 2026. His death comes the day before Colorado was scheduled to start spring football practices.

–Field Level Media

Southern California RB Eli Sanders entering NFL draft

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Southern California running back Eli Sanders declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.

“This is just the beginning of the next chapter, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here,” he posted on X.

He rushed for 264 yards and two touchdowns in six games for the Trojans this season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in a 31-13 win against Michigan on Oct. 11.

It was the redshirt senior’s first season at USC following one season at New Mexico (2024) and three at Iowa State (2021-23).

Sanders rushed for 2,030 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 395 yards and two scores in 39 career games.

–Field Level Media

Browns tout ‘development,’ will stick with QB Shedeur Sanders

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Shedeur Sanders, the stage is yours for the rest of the 2025 regular season.

That was the message from Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday. Cleveland committed to starting the rookie quarterback for the final four games one day removed from Sanders passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns against Tennessee in the Browns’ 10th loss.

“He has constantly and consistently gotten better in each one of these games and how he’s approached this game,” Stefanski said. “He’s been working very hard, so I feel good about where his development is heading. He knows there are always going to be plays that he can be better and those types of things. But he’s very intentional about getting better each and every game he’s out there.”

Sanders also ran for a score on Sunday in the 31-29 loss to the Titans, joining Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow as the only rookies with at least 350 passing yards, three passing TDs and one rushing TD in a single game since the NFL-AFL merger.

In four appearances, Sanders has completed 52.4% of passes for 769 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

“We’ve been around each other now going back to April,” Stefanski said. “The fun part of coaching is developing players and giving them tools to develop in certain areas. … I’ve been really impressed with his work ethic. That’s been a huge part of what we’re focused on with our rookies and all our players, player development. And when they embrace it, that’s the fun part.”

The decision keeps third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, drafted 50 spots ahead of Sanders in 2025, in the backup role and affords Sanders the opportunity to do something Deshaun Watson has done only once in Cleveland — start seven games in a row.

Jameis Winston started seven consecutive games last season for the Browns after Watson was the QB1 for the first seven but landed on injured reserve with a torn Achilles.

Watson is practicing with the Browns but not yet on the 53-man active roster as he recovers from two Achilles surgeries since he was first injured in October 2024. He started the final six games of the 2022 season, first serving an 11-game suspension after being acquired by the Browns from the Houston Texans.

In 2023, Watson lasted three games before he was inactive for consecutive weeks. He attempted to return and play through a shoulder injury but was shut down in mid-November.

–Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders wins first start as Browns sack Raiders 10 times

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LAS VEGAS — In his first career NFL start, highly publicized rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders did just enough to push the Cleveland Browns to their first road win of the season with a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Sanders mostly stayed out of trouble in his debut, completing 11 of 20 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The 23-year-old threw his first career touchdown pass with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, connecting with running back Dylan Sampson on a screen pass that Sampson promptly ran 66 yards into the end zone.

The star of the show throughout Sunday’s game, however, was Cleveland’s defensive front. The Browns tallied 10 sacks, completely stifling a Raiders offense that has struggled to find a rhythm all season.

Due largely to the constant pressure from the Browns’ pass rush, Raiders quarterback Geno Smith seemed unable to deliver a timely throw throughout the game. Wide receiver Tre Tucker created separation and was open deep downfield multiple times, and each time Smith’s throw sailed past his target.

All in all, Smith completed 30 of 44 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He managed to avoid extending his league-leading interception total, but the frustration was all the same. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had another inefficient afternoon on the ground, gaining just 50 yards on 17 carries for an average of 2.9 yards per carry.

Sanders’ most impressive play was a 52-yard completion to fellow rookie Isaiah Bond that set up Cleveland’s second touchdown. Sanders escaped the Raiders’ pass rush and threw a deep pass rolling right that traveled around 55 yards in the air before being caught. Judkins capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown out of the wildcat formation from two yards out.

The Raiders’ scoring output was a 41-yard field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson in the second quarter and a late five-yard connection from Smith to Jeanty in fourth-quarter garbage time. The field goal was set up by Sanders’ only glaring mistake of the game, an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden.

The Browns opened the scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run by rookie Quinshon Judkins out of the wildcat formation. Judkins’ touchdown wrapped up a short two-play, 13-yard drive that was set up by a 44-yard punt return by Gage Larvadain with an additional 14 yards tacked on due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Raiders punter AJ Cole at the end of the play.

Judkins finished with 47 yards on 16 carries in addition to those two touchdowns.

— Will Despart, Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders’ first start spawns prop markets

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On the surface, there is little about a rookie fifth-round quarterback making his first career NFL start in a Week 12 game between a pair of two-win teams that screams appointment television.

But when that rookie is the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback nicknamed “Prime Time” who dramatically tumbled to the third day of the draft, reportedly balked at being selected earlier by another team and then racked up multiple speeding tickets in training camp?

Well, the spotlight focused onShedeur Sanders has often been more intense than his on-field performance might otherwise warrant.

Sanders will make his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, a week after completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception in relief of an injured Dillon Gabriel.

It has ratcheted up the intrigue around the Browns’ game in Sin City on Sunday, and led to numerous sportsbooks spinning up prop bet markets around how Sanders will perform.

Among the slew of “Shedeur Sanders Specials” being offered at DraftKings is the standard how many passing yards he will throw for: 150+ being offered at -129 with 10-yard increments all the way up to 300+ at +3300 longshot odds.

But the prop market also includes more exotic options:
–Sanders to Have a 10+ Yard Long Rush (-135)
–Sanders to Either Throw 2+ Passing TDs or Score 1+ Rushing TDs (+190)
–Sanders to Have a 40+ Yard Completion (+250)
–Sanders to Have 25+ Passing Yards in Each Quarter (+350)
–Sanders to Have a 20+ Yard Long Rush (+400)
–Sanders to Have a 50+ Yard Completion (+650)
–Sanders to Have 100+ Passing Yards in Each Half (+650)
–Sanders to Have 5+ Rushing Yards in Each Quarter (+1000)
–Sanders to Have 25+ Rushing Yards in Each Half (+2500)
–Sanders to Have 50+ Passing Yards in Each Quarter (+5000)
–Sanders to Have 1+ Passing TD in Each Quarter (+17000)

The raging curiosity is just how Sanders will fare on Sunday, going from third-stringer to starter during the course of his first season and taking full first-team reps for the first time on Wednesday.

Despite the presence of star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders would appear to be an ideal soft landing spot for a rookie quarterback. Cleveland has a stellar defense that should give Las Vegas’ beleaguered offense all it can handle, and the Raiders are coming off a Monday night game in which they were torched for four touchdown passes by Dallas’ Dak Prescott.

Granted, Sanders is light years away from the veteran Prescott, but the Raiders have lost four consecutive games in a season that has spiraled out of control. Las Vegas has been outscored by 98 points this season.

For the critics itching for a Sanders train wreck on Sunday, there are props for that, too. The Over/Under for his interceptions thrown is just 0.5, in part because the Browns are expected to employ a run-heavy ground and high percentage passing game.

–Sanders INTs 1+ (-125)
–Sanders INTs 2+ (+165)
–Sanders INTs 3+ (+447)
–Sanders INTs 4+ (+1160)

Sanders’ Over/Under for total completions has been set at a very modest 15.5 by DraftKings, while his combined passing and rushing yards is being offered at 182.5

“I know our fans have a lot of expectations and hope,” Sanders said. “And I would be doing a disservice to myself and a disservice to the organization if I didn’t feel like I am the guy. I did everything I need to. I’m doing everything I need to prepare to be the best version of myself as possible.

“With the circumstances, everything got to be sped up and that’s great. I like pressure in life. I’m just excited for everything. So, I feel like I’m the guy. I know I’m the guy, but you just have to be able to see.”

–Field Level Media

Home of Browns QB Shedeur Sanders burglarized during debut

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The Ohio home of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was burglarized and three suspects made off with about $200,000 in stolen property this weekend, local police revealed Tuesday.

The Medina County sheriff’s office said in a news release that the trio of suspects entered Sanders’ residence at approximately 6:46 p.m. local time Sunday, wearing masks and gloves. Surveillance camera footage showed them exiting the home about 12 minutes later with property, the nature of which the police did not detail.

The theft happened while Sanders was with his team — playing in his first NFL game against the visiting Baltimore Ravens after fellow rookie and starting QB Dillon Gabriel left with a concussion.

“Any information regarding this should be directed to Captain Eric Bors,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.

Sanders went 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards and an interception in his NFL debut. He may make his first professional start this Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders if Gabriel remains in concussion protocol.

Sanders, the 23-year-old son of Deion Sanders, has had a difficult year since plummeting to the fifth round of the NFL draft in April. He began his Browns tenure as the team’s fourth-string quarterback before they offloaded veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.

The incident is also the latest in a high-profile string of home burglaries targeting star athletes this year, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers.

–Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders fizzles in Browns’ debut after injury to Dillon Gabriel

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel exited Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion, giving fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders his first taste of NFL play.

Sanders completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and one interception while playing with the first-team offense for the first time, including practice sessions. Sanders was sacked twice, fumbling on one of them with the Browns recovering.

The biggest problem: Cleveland didn’t score with Sanders running the offense. His passer rating was just 13.5.

“I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders said after the game. “There are lot of things we need to look at during the week and go get comfortable throwing routes to all those guys. That was my first balls to them all year.”

Gabriel’s status for next week’s road game against the Las Vegas Raiders will be determined during the week.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said Gabriel will start if he is healthy.

“Yes, but there’s obvious that protocol, a lot goes into that. We’ll see,” Stefanski said after the Browns fell to 2-8.

Gabriel completed 7 of 10 passes for 68 yards before exiting. He apparently was injured in the second quarter as Sanders took the field for Cleveland’s first possession of the third quarter. Gabriel was officially ruled out of the contest with just more than five minutes left in the third quarter.

Gabriel was a third-round pick in the 2025 draft and Sanders was selected in the fifth round, way later than he expected after being a college standout at Colorado. He is the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

Cleveland entered training camp with four quarterbacks, including veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. Pickett was traded before the season to the Raiders and Flacco opened the campaign as the Cleveland starter before being dealt to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7, two days after Gabriel started in his place.

Asked about Sanders’ debut performance, Stefanski took a middle-of-the-road approach.

“Look, we trust our guys to perform. He’s no different,” Stefanski said. “Playing a backup quarterback role, that’s tough to come in there but we trust him. I know there’s things that he’s going to want to do better but that’s why we work.”

Sanders said he’s looking forward to throwing with all the receivers and tight ends in practice this week. He said he wants another chance to play.

“The most I can ask for is the opportunity,” Sanders said. “They gave me the opportunity. I didn’t do up to my expectations, didn’t do enough to get us the win.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) leaves the field following the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Browns add QB Shedeur Sanders (back) to injury list

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The Cleveland Browns added rookie Shedeur Sanders to the injury report on Saturday and elevated fellow quarterback Bailey Zappe from the practice squad.

Sanders is dealing with a back issue and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest between the Browns (2-5) and New England Patriots (5-2) in Foxborough, Mass. Zappe will back up rookie Dillon Gabriel if Sanders is unavailable.

Sanders, 23, was drafted in the fifth round in April. The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has yet to make his regular-season debut.

Gabriel, 24, recorded his first NFL victory with a 31-6 defeat of the Miami Dolphins last weekend. The third-round pick has completed 59.8% of his passes for 546 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in five games (three starts).

Zappe, 26, has a 4-5 record with the New England Patriots (2022-23) and Browns (2024). He last played in a regular-season game in Week 18 in 2024, losing 35-10 to the host Baltimore Ravens.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) on the field after a game against the New Orleans Saints at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Bills placing S Damar Hamlin (pectoral) on injured reserve

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The Buffalo Bills are placing safety Damar Hamlin and rookie defensive tackle T.J Sanders on injured reserve, coach Sean McDermott said Saturday.

The Bills (4-1) also ruled out linebacker Matt Milano for Monday night’s road game against the Atlanta Falcons (2-2).

Hamlin (pectoral), Milano (pectoral) and Sanders (knee) were all absent from Friday’s practice.

The IR designation means Hamlin and Sanders will miss a minimum of four games. Their earliest return would be the Bills’ Week 11 home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hamlin, 27, has recorded one tackle in five games this season, playing 49 of his 61 total snaps on special teams.

Sanders, 22, did not play in last Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots. He has two tackles in four games.

Milano, 31, has collected 15 tackles and one sack in three games (all starts) this season, his ninth with Buffalo.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) warms up before the game between the Browns and the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns elevate QB Shedeur Sanders to backup role

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Shedeur Sanders will back up fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel when Cleveland visits the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Friday.

Sanders, the son of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, ascended to the No. 2 spot following this week’s trade of veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Inactive for the first five games, Sanders was buried on the depth chart two months ago before Cleveland parted ways with Kenny Pickett (traded to Las Vegas Raiders), Tyler Huntley (released) and Flacco.

“I’m overly confident within myself,” Sanders said Thursday, per ESPN. “I know when I first got here I’m ready to play, but that’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make, I’m fine with it.”

The Browns (1-4) are already 0-2 in the AFC North heading into this Week 6 clash with the division-leading Steelers (3-1).

Sanders, a projected first-round pick, slipped to the fifth round in April’s draft where the Browns grabbed him with the 144th pick — 50 spots after taking Gabriel in the third round.

Gabriel, 24, made his first NFL start last weekend in London and completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards with two touchdowns in a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Sanders, 23, was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season with the Buffaloes. He completed 74 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushed for four scores in 13 games.

Cleveland’s once overcrowded quarterback room now includes Bailey Zappe (practice squad) and Deshaun Watson (PUP list).

–Field Level Media